Except as provided by Section 14108 and Section 14108.1, any recipient of services under this chapter who is residing in a long-term care facility shall be permitted to be temporarily absent from such facilities for up to 18 days per year, not including days of bed hold for acute hospitalization. The department may approve additional days of leave on an individual basis, not to exceed 12 days per year, exclusive of days of bed hold for acute hospitalization.

All such leaves of absence shall be in accordance with an individual patient care plan as approved by the attending physician. The director shall adopt

regulations establishing the conditions under which additional leave days shall be authorized. The director may establish reasonable limits on the duration of any period of absence.